Ed Board Votes To Break Up Shrinking Southwest Arkansas School District

Thursday

Apr 10, 2014 at 5:40 AMApr 11, 2014 at 10:21 AM

LITTLE ROCK — The state Board of Education voted Thursday to consolidate the Stephens School District in southwestern Arkansas with three neighboring districts because of dwindling enrollment.

LITTLE ROCK — The state Board of Education voted Thursday to consolidate the Stephens School District in southwestern Arkansas with three neighboring districts because of dwindling enrollment.

Enrollment in the Stephens district fell below 350 students for two consecutive school years, triggering mandatory consolidation or annexation with one or more districts under state law. The state panel voted 5-2 to consolidate the Stephens district with the Camden Fairview, Magnolia and Nevada school districts, effective July 1.

The Stephens district had an average daily membership of 334 students in the 2011-12 school year and 344 students in the 2012-13 school year. The district then had until March 1 of this year to notify the board if it had found a partner for voluntary consolidation, but it did not find one.

The state Department of Education recommended the three-way consolidation. Stephens Superintendent Patsy Hughey asked the board to reject that recommendation, saying that if the district must be consolidated, she would rather see it consolidated in its entirety with the Nevada district.

"To me, it’s like you’re taking our students, and you’re using them like livestock at auction and you’re dividing them these different ways. If the school must close, then please, ma’am, and please, sir, let the students go together," she said.

Clay Fendley, attorney for the Stephens district, said the Camden Fairview district contemplated immediately closing the Stephens schools that would become part of its district.

"We believe the best interests of our students are best served by a quality school in their community," he said.

Stephens Mayor Harry Brown also urged the board not to break up the district.

"We’re losing schools right and left," he said. "We’re losing schools and we’re building jails. There’s something wrong with that picture."

State Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell told the board that consolidation is in the best interest of the students. He said all three of the neighboring districts are outperforming the Stephens district academically.

"And I could talk about more. I could talk about programs, class offerings, etc.," he said.

Fendley said after the vote, "We’re disappointed with the decision of the state board. As far as what’s next, it’ll be up to the Camden (Fairview) School Board and whether they vote to close the Stephens schools — and if they vote to close those schools, we will oppose that."